West Springfield police and firefighters to battle teachers on the basketball court in Soupy for Loopy fund-raiser

Submitted photoThe Soupy for Loopy Foundation was created in memory of Laura Sypeck, who lost her life in 2006 at age 11 to neuroblastoma. The foundation - which gets its name from Laura's nickname, Loopy, and her favorite food to eat when she was receiving treatment, homemade tomato elbow macaroni soup - to date has donated $125,000 for childhood cancer research.

WEST SPRINGFIELD - The police and fire departments will team up again this year, testing their basketball skills against the city’s teachers, for the fifth annual charity basketball game to benefit the Soupy for Loopy Foundation.

The game, scheduled for May 3 at West Springfield High School, is played in memory of Laura Sypek, who lost her battle with cancer in 2006 at age 11.

The game kicks off at 6 p.m. at the high school, 425 Piper Road. Donations of $7 per family, or $5 per individual, are requested. The foundation donates its fund to help find a cure for childhood cancers. The foundation gets its name from Laura’s nickname, Loopy, and her favorite food to eat when she was receiving treatment, homemade tomato elbow macaroni soup.

The basketball game originally pitted West Springfield police officers against West Springfield firefighters. Last year, the first responders teamed up to play against the town’s teachers. Laura’s father is West Springfield Police Sgt. Mark Sypek.

Laura was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a solid tumor childhood cancer, at the age of 2. Neuroblastoma accounts for 7 percent of all childhood cancers, but causes 15 percent of all childhood cancer deaths due to its often aggressive nature.

Last year, the Soupy for Loopy Foundation donated $50,000 to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to support two research projects aimed at fighting neuroblastoma. Laura participated in a medical trial at the hospital. To date, the foundation has donated $125,000 for childhood cancer research.

Later this year, the Soupy for Loopy Foundation will hold its seventh annual fund-raiser to mark what would have been Laura’s birthday, her 18th. Held on Oct. 12, the fund-raiser includes golf at Tekoa Country Club, dinner with Laura’s favorite soup, and raffles.